diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e025233
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+These makefiles are recipes for several common tasks in different types of projects.
+To add them to your project, simply do:
+
+```
+git remote add makefiles ssh://git@lab.cluster.gsi.dit.upm.es:2200/docs/templates/makefiles.git
+git subtree add --prefix=.makefiles/ makefiles master
+touch Makefile
+echo "include .makefiles/makefiles.mk" >> Makefile
+```
+
+Now you can take advantage of the recipes.
+For instance, to add useful targets for a python project, just add this to your Makefile:
+
+```
+include .makefiles/python.mk
+```
+
+You may need to set special variables like the name of your project or the python versions you're targetting.
+Take a look at each specific `.mk` file for more information, and the `Makefile` in the [senpy](https://lab.cluster.gsi.dit.upm.es/senpy/senpy) project for a real use case.
+
+If you update the makefiles from your repository, make sure to push the changes for review in upstream (this repository):
+
+```
+make makefiles-push
+```
+
+It will automatically commit all unstaged changes in the .makefiles folder.
diff --git a/makefiles.mk b/makefiles.mk
index 2b80a94..4bee03b 100644
--- a/makefiles.mk
+++ b/makefiles.mk
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 makefiles-remote:
 	git remote add makefiles ssh://git@lab.cluster.gsi.dit.upm.es:2200/docs/templates/makefiles.git || true
 
-makefiles-commit:
+makefiles-commit: makefiles-remote
 	git add -f .makefiles
-	git commit -m "Updated makefiles from ${NAME}"
+	git commit -em "Updated makefiles from ${NAME}"
 
-makefiles-push: makefiles-remote
+makefiles-push:
 	git subtree push --prefix=.makefiles/ makefiles $(NAME)
 
 makefiles-pull: makefiles-remote